Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Feeling So At Home in the World

Well, I'm home and it feels good after 5 weeks although I've been really wanting to go to sleep all evening due to jet lag.  So I'm at the neighborhood hangout, New Era Cafe (run by a beautiful Ethiopian couple) for an avocado smoothie (dinner) and to do a little "work" on the computer.  The mayor walked in a couple of minutes ago and we had a great conversation about the latest progress in Pine Lake as well as how my trip went and how Aiden is doing.  I do love living in this community!

I  just wanted to sort of complete some of my thoughts on my journey over the past 5 weeks.  In general, I feel this overwhelming sense of grace and gratitude around the whole thing.  It was a leap of faith to leave for as long as I did but I knew in my soul it was the "right" thing for me.  It has been an amazing and transformative journey and, honestly, I don't quite have the words for it.  I'm just so grateful for the beauty of it- for the magic, the miracles, the relationships developed, the huge amount of love felt.  I'm so blessed to walk back into my life here with no problems- and with lots of contract work to make up for the time gone.  I wasn't sure what was going to happen with that when I left.  Thank you God!

Really, I feel this renewed sense of life- a passion for life.  And, I feel like I've found a real tangible way that I can give back some of the abundance that I experience in my life (supporting the girls hostel, Bright Nepal).  I love what this organization is doing.  I love Pabitra, the amazing woman who runs it.  I love the girls.  I love the fact that I now have a personal relationship with this organization which I will continue to nurture.  I know I will be back in Nepal sooner than later!

I love the Tibetans and their beautiful way of life even as refugees.  I love their practice of Buddhism.  I love that the Dalai Lama encourages Westerners to continue following the example of Jesus Christ.  I have felt a profound renewal in my own faith and in my own spiritual practice because of my experience with Hindu and Buddhist practitioners, holy sites and temples.  I was inspired by these experiences in many different ways for many different reasons.

That's it in a nutshell!!!  And to further complete. .  (poo I didn't bring the right memory card so here's just a few of the pictures I was going to post.. .more later!)

Atisha School (sp?) boys getting ready to do a traditional dance for us.  This school is for the Tibetan refugee children in Nepal.  The refugee community lives across the street.  

The school welcomes us as their honored guests.

Performing a traditional dance for us. 

The elder Tibetan women perform traditional songs and dance for us as well.

Dances of Universal Peace with the children

The computer lab at this school is completely outdated.  The school is trying to raise $3500 to upgrade everything.  We were able to give them about $1000 toward this endeavor.  If anyone wants to make a tax deductible donation towards this cause OR if anyone wants to ship laptops to the school, please contact me!! THANKS

In Bhaktapur, Nepal

Same. ..having enjoyed lunch at a roof top cafe.  If it weren't so hazy you would be able to see the snow peaked Himalayans in the distance.  They surrounded the Khatmandu valley of course!


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